Multiple-rodrack assembly for motion conversion technology

Abstract

A motion conversion apparatus (400, 500) comprises at least one set including a rodrack assembly (110) between two gearshaft member end sections (155), and a gearshaft member mid section (156) between the two gearshaft member end sections (155). The rodrack assembly (110) comprises a first gear connection member (120) and two guide members (140). The gearshaft member mid section (156) comprises a second gear connection member (160) configured to engage with the first gear connection member (120). The two gearshaft member end sections (155) each comprise a guiding surface arrangement (170) configured to contact the two guide members (140). The rodrack assembly (110) is configured to provide rotation of the gearshaft member mid section (156) about a rotational axis (A) by reciprocating linear motion of the rodrack assembly (110) along a first spatial dimension (D1) orthogonal to the rotational axis (A), or vice versa.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) comprising:
 at least one set including:
 a rodrack assembly ( 110 ) between two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ), the rodrack assembly ( 110 ) comprising a first gear connection member ( 120 ) and two guide members ( 140 ); and 
 a gearshaft member mid section ( 156 ) between the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ), the gearshaft member mid section ( 156 ) comprising a second gear connection member ( 160 ) configured to engage with the first gear connection member ( 120 ), 
 the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) each comprising a guiding surface arrangement ( 170  and  174 ) configured to contact the two guide members ( 140 ), 
 the rodrack assembly ( 110 ) being configured to provide rotation of the gearshaft member mid section ( 156 ) about a rotational axis (A) by reciprocating linear motion of the rodrack assembly ( 110 ) along a first spatial dimension (D 1 ) orthogonal to the rotational axis (A), and/or the gearshaft member mid section ( 156 ) being configured to provide reciprocating linear motion of the rodrack assembly ( 110 ) along the first spatial dimension (D 1 ) by rotational motion of the gearshaft member mid section ( 156 ) about the rotational axis (A), 
 the guiding surface arrangement ( 170  and  174 ) being configured to simultaneously contact each of the two guide members ( 140 ) during at least a portion of the reciprocating linear motion of the rodrack assembly ( 110 ). 
 
 
     
     
       2. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one set includes at least two sets aligned with one another along the rotational axis (A). 
     
     
       3. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least two sets are out of phase with respect to one another. 
     
     
       4. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least two sets include two sets which are out of phase with one another by 45 degrees about the rotational axis (A). 
     
     
       5. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least two sets include three sets which are out of phase with a respective other one of the three sets by 120 degrees about the rotational axis (A). 
     
     
       6. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a splined shaft ( 410 ) extending through the at least one set, the splined shaft ( 410 ) being coupled to the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) and the gearshaft member mid section ( 156 ) so that the splined shaft ( 410 ), the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) and the gearshaft member mid section ( 156 ) are configured to rotate together about the rotational axis (A). 
 
     
     
       7. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one set is located between two end bearings ( 402 ), and the splined shaft ( 410 ) includes a stop flange ( 412 ) which abuts against one of the two end bearings ( 402 ). 
     
     
       8. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) are coupled to the gearshaft member mid sections ( 156 ) by pins ( 530 ), teeth ( 540 ) and teeth sockets ( 542 ), or axially extending teeth ( 544 ,  546 ), so that the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) and the gearshaft member mid sections ( 156 ) are configured to rotate together about the rotational axis (A). 
     
     
       9. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein one of the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) is coupled to an end flange ( 522 ) by pins ( 530 ), teeth ( 540 ) and teeth sockets ( 542 ), or axially extending teeth ( 544 ,  546 ), so that the one of the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) and the end flange ( 522 ) are configured to rotate together about the rotational axis (A). 
     
     
       10. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein one of the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) of one of the at least one set is coupled to one of the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) of another one of the at least one set by pins ( 530 ), teeth ( 540 ) and teeth sockets ( 542 ), or axially extending teeth ( 544 ,  546 ), so that the one of the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) and the other one of the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) are configured to rotate together about the rotational axis (A). 
     
     
       11. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a smooth shaft ( 510 ) extending through the at least one set. 
 
     
     
       12. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the guiding surface arrangement ( 170 ) comprises wall surfaces ( 173 ) of an interrupted central periodic groove ( 172 ). 
     
     
       13. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the two guide members ( 140 ) includes two opposite ends which each protrude from opposite sides of the first gear connection member ( 120 ). 
     
     
       14. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the two guide members ( 140 ) include two shafts. 
     
     
       15. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein the guiding surface arrangement ( 170 ) comprises wall surfaces ( 173 ) of an interrupted central periodic groove ( 172 ), and the two shafts are configured to travel within the periodic groove ( 172 ) during the reciprocating linear motion of the at least one rodrack assembly ( 110 ). 
     
     
       16. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein each of the two shafts is configured to spin along a longitudinal axis thereof. 
     
     
       17. The motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the gearshaft member mid section ( 156 ) and one of the two gearshaft member end sections ( 155 ) are integrally formed as one piece. 
     
     
       18. An internal combustion engine assembly comprising:
 the motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       19. A pump assembly comprising:
 the motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       20. A hydraulic and/or fracturing pump assembly comprising:
 the motion conversion apparatus ( 400 ,  500 ) according to  claim 1 .